Handle With Care

by Dahlia Rose

  “Is the baby ok?” Tricia asked.

  “Take a look for yourself and listen,” Ben said gently with a smile. ‘That’s your baby and he or she looks fine.”

  A soft tearful gasp escaped her when she saw the tiny image in grainy black and white on the screen. Ben turned a knob and then placed the small receiver from the Doppler on her belly. The sound of a fast paced thump filled the air and she couldn’t help the tears. That sound was magical and priceless to her. The baby’s heart beat and she fell even more in love with the life growing inside her.

  “It’s perfect,” she whispered. “Can I get a picture of that?”

  He placed his hand over hers. “You can have as many as you like. From this I’d say your due date will be early December. Since you were off by a few weeks, my estimate would be between November thirtieth and December fifth.”

  “Wow, holiday baby,’ she whispered and pressed her hand against her belly as soon as he used the towel to clean it off. ‘Thank you, Ben.”

  “I didn’t do anything,” he grinned. “Except be the best baby doctor ever.”

  She sat up and smiled. “That you are. What happens next?”

  “I’ll see you in a month and each month after that,” he explained. ‘Then as your due date gets closer it will go down to two weeks, then weekly until the birth. In that time, we’ll check your sugar levels and other stuff and at around twenty to twenty-five weeks we can tell if it’s a boy or girl. That’s if you want to know.”

  “I do, the suspense would kill me,” Tricia replied.

  Ben stood. “That’s it for now, so I will see you in a month. I’ll leave you to get dressed and bring these pictures back.”

  Feeling like she was basically dismissed and abruptly to boot, Tricia thanked him in a low voice and didn’t meet his gaze. The door closed and she pulled on her pants with an angry jerk. Screw this, she thought suddenly, tired of being the soft, demure I’ll-take-it-and-say-nothing type. When he came back in the room she was ready to give him a piece of her mind.

  “Ben, I’ll have you know, I’m a good woman and an amazing catch for any man,” Tricia stated bluntly. “I’m smart, I’m getting my ducks in a row regardless of my situation and any man would be lucky to have me. I’m a helluva kisser but you already know that. You don’t need to act like you’re my friend one minute then a pariah in the next. I’ll make that appointment for next month. Good day, Doctor.”

  With that she plucked the ultrasound pictures out of his hand and walked towards the door with her head held high in a huff. She felt good being able to say what she felt, and with her treasured pictures in her purse she made the appointment and went home.

  After lunch she started to work on her plan for her new business. She would need a business plan and projected earnings and marketing projections for the bank in order to secure a loan. Then get her designs created in various sizes, find a storefront, decorate it so that it was chic but welcoming. She had lunch at her desk in the downstairs room she’d made into her office and by the time she was finished working, the sun was setting. Tricia put away all she had done and closed her laptop feeling satisfied with what she had accomplished. Now it was time for her to focus on dinner and her stomach growled hungrily in response.

  “If that’s your way of making me know you’re famished, Baby, I get the message,” Tricia laughed softy and rubbed the mound of her lower stomach.

  On her way to the kitchen, the doorbell rang and she detoured to answer the door. A fear that Nico may show up made her add dead bolts to the doors and get a security system. While there was a higher than normal crime rate in New Orleans she felt safe in her neighborhood.

  “Who is it?” Tricia called out with wariness.

  “Ben.” His voice was brisk, deep and serious, making her think something was wrong with the baby.

  Tricia opened the door quickly. “Ben, what’s wrong?”

  He stepped inside and she stepped back as he strode towards her, slamming the door with his hand in one rough movement. Ben took her by the shoulders and kissed her until her head swam. When he lifted his head, Ben gave her lip a nibble before he began to speak.

  “I will tell you what’s wrong: You state yourself quite clearly and walk out all Ms. High and Mighty without giving me a chance to respond,” Ben’s voice was a low harsh sound filled with desire and slightly pissed. “I don’t think you’re a pariah, I do think you were hurt by an asshole I should still be stomping into the ground. I was trying to be careful and gentle with your feelings because of this. The kiss we shared was so fucking hot it scorched my bones and it took everything out of me to not take you upstairs to my bed, pregnant or not.”

  His eyes searched her face before he cupped her cheek. “Speaking of which, your being pregnant with another’s man child means zippo to me because when I fall in love with you, that child will be mine as well—no questions asked. I’m not going to be Mr. Nice Guy all the time. I want you, I want us to date, have sex and learn about each other not necessarily in that order. Is that okay with you or do you need me to go out and come back with flowers?”

  “Ummm, flowers would be nice,” Tricia teased and he raised an eyebrow at her. “I’m kidding. I understand everything you said and appreciate that you’re trying to be sensitive to my situation. I’m sorry I did not allow you to speak for yourself instead of assuming... I’d like for us to date too.”

  “Good, how about now, have you had dinner?” Ben asked.

  “No, I was just going to make something, I’m not even dressed up,” Tricia said.

  “You look perfect the way you are,” Ben smiled and bent his head to kiss her. “Come on, I’ll take you to the best place to get Cajun food in the city.”

  “Ok, let me find my shoes, they’re somewhere,” Tricia said and looked around the room.

  “We already have one thing in common, we like to be barefoot and can’t find our shoes,” Ben pointed out.

  Tricia smiled. “Sounds like a good start to me.”

  She found her canvas sneakers and pulled her hair back before they left. After making sure her doors were locked, Ben took her hand in his as they walked to his car. She had wonderful butterflies in her stomach as he helped her into the car. This was their first date and he didn’t care about what she was wearing or the fact she had no makeup on. It was a good start indeed.

  * * * *

  Spring got warmer and even though summer wasn’t officially till June, you could tell the heat was definitely back. In the daytime it could hit eighty degrees but at night there was a slight chill in the air. Tricia loved sitting outside on the balcony of her bedroom at night, enjoying some dessert and listening to the sounds of Bourbon Street. It wasn’t too far away, just enough that you could hear the music and sounds filtering through the air without the crowds.

  People tended to hear Bourbon Street and automatically associate it with drunken parties. That was true around Mardi Gras but they forgot that the city was known for its Jazz music as well and great singers, a throwback to an era where sometimes music was all people had in New Orleans. It was part of the culture to let tunes, singing and praise help them though the tough times when food was scarce and slavery was a part of life. Tricia loved the history of the city because it was built on foundation of togetherness.

  She was alone that night, well every night she and Ben spent time together. He always took her home and made sure she was safe after a passionate kiss, but never stayed. They were taking it slow, she loved that he was so caring, gentle and patient with her. But after each kiss, each caress, she could see the desire in his eyes. She wanted him to throw caution to the wind but pushed that thought aside. She’d always led with her impetuous nature, mistaking lust for love. Tricia felt more than just passion when she was with Ben; they were creating a solid foundation to build a relationship on.

  Tricia took her slice of apple pie with ice cream out to the balcony and set it on the artisan glass and iron table she’d bought. Looking over the edge of
the balcony she could see the vines she’d planted running up the mental stairs and starting to bloom. By next year it’s going to be covered by honeysuckle, she thought, pleased. She missed Ben but he was on call late that night and by the time he did leave it would be too late to come over. They would see each other the next day but without him around she felt the emptiness. He would sit on the balcony with her and he actually listened to her plans with interest and offered ideas. It wasn’t a pat on the head like she was accustomed to receiving from men. Ben wasn’t that way and he saw her intelligence and business savvy.

  Tricia looked down and frowned. When did the UPS guy come by? There was a white box by her front door. Usually even if it was late delivery, Todd the deliveryman would ring the doorbell and wait until she opened the door and grabbed the package. There was no doubt that thieves were always around in New Orleans and had no problem taking a package from a house and walking away with it casually like they owned it. Todd did his due diligence, but Tricia shrugged, she was probably upstairs making plans for the nursery when he ran the bell. She took a quick bite of her dessert before heading downstairs. Tricia took the package that was leaned up against the door and looked around before she stepped back inside.

  After putting the box on the counter she grabbed a knife to open it and after pulling back the tissue, Tricia screamed in terror and stumbled back. Inside was a plastic baby doll with its faced partially melted and burned. The eyes had pins and the rest of the body was covered with strange markings. It was obviously a voodoo doll and it was targeting her and her baby. She was scared, her heart raced and she rushed to the living room to look for the phone. How is my baby and the baby she’s carrying? It had a message on the screen from Ben and she automatically dialed his number.

  “I was just about to call you,” Ben said when he answered. “You didn’t answer my text, I was worried.”

  “B-Ben,” she stammered his name and then the words tumbled out. “Someone left me a box and it’s... it’s horrible, a doll.... disfigured, Oh God, it’s a threat to the baby!”

  “Take a deep breath sweetheart, calm down,” Ben’s voice had gone from cheery to serious. “I’m going to get someone to cover the rest of my rounds and I’ll be right there. Call Isa and Bryce, get them to come over until I can get there. Hang up and do it now, I’ll be there soon.”

  “Okay.”

  Tricia did as Ben told her to do and Isa said Bryce would drive and they would be there soon. Another call for someone to save me, she thought, disgusted with herself. But looking at the doll made her shudder, and she put her hand over her growing stomach defensively as if the doll and its sender could harm her unborn child. Soon Isa and Bryce were at the door and she opened it with shaking fingers.

  “I’m so sorry I have to call you guys out in the middle of the night,” Tricia said apologetically after a quick hug to them both.

  “It’s only nine,” Isa said. ‘The twins are down for the night and David is watching them.”

  “Show me the doll,” Bryce said grimly.

  Tricia led them to the kitchen where the box still sat on the counter. Isa made a sound of horror and while Bryce said nothing she could see the muscle in his jaw pulse as he ground his teeth in anger. He took pictures from different angles and Tricia had to turn away, unable to look at the thing any longer.

  “Who would send me something like this?” Tricia asked.

  “Well, for one it’s not someone who knows the mythos of the voodoo culture,” Bryce said. “I minored in it in college and none of the symbols mean anything, they are just drawn on for effect. This is a scare tactic, nothing more.”

  “Then why try to scare her?” Isa questioned.

  “More than likely Nico is in town and it’s his way to try to inflict more damage,” Bryce said grimly. “I’ll send the pictures to the police and get one of my investigators on tracking him down. I want you to file a formal report with the police tomorrow. My connection in the force will call you and you can deal directly with him and his partner.”

  “God, won’t this ever end? Can’t he just go away and leave me alone?” Tricia said in despair.

  “You can come stay with us until things blow over,” Isa said consolingly.

  Tricia shook her head. “No, I’m not letting his chase me from my home like some coward. I’m building a home for me and my baby and he doesn’t get to take that.”

  “I’ll be with her,” Ben said from the doorway.

  “Ben,” she said with a smile.

  He opened his arms and she went over to him willingly. Being enveloped against his broad chest made her world right on its axis. She didn’t care that it sounded like a dime romance novel but she felt ten times better with him there.

  “How are you?” He asked huskily after he kissed her temple.

  “Better,” she admitted. “That doll threw me for a loop.”

  Ben walked over and flicked an angry glance at it. “This is Nico, isn’t it?”

  “I wouldn’t put it past him,” Bryce said. “I was telling Tricia to file a report tomorrow and I’ll have my investigator find him.”

  “I should still be punching his teeth down the back of his throat,” Ben said grimly. “If you find him I still may do that. I’ll be staying with Tricia until this all over.” He looked at her. “If that’s ok, unless you want to come to my place?”

  “Here’s fine. We’ll have plenty of room,” Tricia said and her heart picked up pace at the thought of Ben and her under the same roof.

  “Are you saying my townhouse is too small?” Ben teased.

  “Well, your kitchen....” Tricia let the words trail off.

  “I think Ben can handle it from here,” Isa jumped in with a wicked smile. “We’ll leave T in his I’m sure very capable hands.”

  Tricia caught her meaning and threw the closest thing to her hand at her friend, an oven mitt.

  “Thank you guys for coming,” Tricia said.

  “I’ll take this thing with us and give it over to the police when Rich comes by,” Bryce said with a grin. “That’s who will be calling you, Detective Richard Lombardo.”

  Tricia hugged Isa and then Bryce. “I appreciate everything you guys have done for me.”

  “We love you,” Bruce answered. “We always look out for family.”

  “Yes, we do,” Isa agreed. “Look after our girl, Ben.”

  “They would have to come though me and I’m very hard to move,” Ben said grimly.

  After they left and she locked the door, Tricia felt a nervous tumble of butterflies in her stomach. She was very alone with Ben and he would be staying.

  “So sleeping arrangements,” she said a bit too cheerily and grimaced at her own voice.

  “Where’s your bedroom?” A slow smile spread across her face.

  “Upstairs,” she squeaked. “There’s a guest room down here if you want, I can find sheets and some blankets. It’s not quite furnished yet.”

  “Tricia, I want to hold you while you sleep, nothing more.” Ben walked over to her and wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close. “When the time is right for that we will both know, right now you need to be loved and secured. That’s what boyfriends are for.”

  “Is that what you are? We never gave our relationship a label,” Tricia looked up at him.

  “Well, in my head, I’m your main squeeze—your boyfriend, your man, your baby daddy pro tem...”

  Tricia laughed. “I get it and I’m your girlfriend.”

  “Good. I was hoping this wasn’t one-sided,” Ben kissed her gently and then again with more passion.

  Tricia sank into the kiss and accepted his tongue in her mouth greedily before puling away. “My dessert is probably melted upstairs.”

  Ben laughed out loud. “You’re thinking about dessert now?”

  “It was apple pie and vanilla ice cream, I wanted it all day and I ate all my veggies for dinner,” she pointed out. “It was my treat.”

  “Is there more in the kitch
en?” he asked.

  “There is,” she said. “Want to share some?”

  “Like I’m going to say no,” Ben took her hand and led her to the kitchen. “Let’s go listen to the night and share dessert.”

  “I hate that you had to leave work for me,” Tricia said.

  Those words stopped him in his tracks and he turned to her. “Tricia, I’d swim to Mississippi for you if you needed me. Don’t ever think otherwise, I’m not going anywhere.”

  “I’m glad to hear that because I’m here for the long haul too,” Tricia reached up and pulled his head down for a kiss. “I promise.”

  Dessert was shared on the balcony and Ben cleaned up the dishes including her lost dessert from earlier while she got ready for bed. She slipped into bed nervously wearing a big t-shirt and loose shorts and waited for him to join her. Ben entered the room and stripped off his shirt and pants before sliding into bed with her and pulling her close.

  “Ben, I feel something,” she said excitedly.

  “Sorry, I’ll try to control myself but you smell so good and...”

  “No, you nutball. Feel,” Tricia laughed and took his hand against her belly. “Can you feel that?” Yes, she felt his semi-hardness against her thigh, but that wasn’t what she meant. Tricia could feel the first movements of the baby and it made her heart feel so full with love it practically ached.

  “You’re about sixteen weeks, honey. I can barely feel the fluttering,” Ben laughed huskily. “I’ve felt many babies move in their mom’s stomachs, this by far is the most special one.”

  “I’m glad you were here so I can share this with you,” Tricia admitted. “It feels more than good, it feels right.”

  “There no place in the world I’d rather be,” he kissed her gently. “Go to sleep, honey, you’re safe.”

  She did just that as he rubbed her shoulders gently and the nervous tension slipped away. When Tricia woke up later in the darkened room she could feel his warmth against her back and his big hand against her stomach. She shifted to her side and without waking, he pulled her against him protectively and his hand was back on her stomach. Even in sleep he was making sure she was safe, Tricia was lulled back to sleep by his even breathing and the knowledge that there was no place in the world she’d rather be than in his arms.